Blog Archives

For this Cards in Envy Challenge, we are all about the black and white cards for our “Tuxedo” challenge. Create any black and white themed card for your entry. Our challenge runs through Sunday, January, 28th and the design team will be picking their favorites. As a quick reminder, Cards in Envy asks that you make your card fit into a standard A2 card, which is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.

My card today features an older Stampin’ Up image used with a square scalloped punch. The black and white papers are from My Minds Eye and cut with a Lawn Fawn scalloped die. My script stamp is from Impression Obsessions, which I stamped in Hero Arts Shadow ink in soft granite. I edged in white pen, wrapped the focal in black and white twine, and finished with 3 black pearls.

I hope you will join us at Cards in Envy this week and show us your “Tuxedo” cards.

Happy Monday! That means it’s time for a new Cards in Envy Challenge and this week we are celebrating Pink & Grey cards! Please make sure your card fits into a standard A2 envelope without any large lumps or bumps. The challenge will run through Sunday, January 29th and our design team will be choosing their favorite cards to feature on the The Cards in Envy blog.

For my card today I used AlteNew’s Adore You stamp set. I stamped the flowers in Versafine Smokey Grey ink over design paper by My Minds Eye. I inked the edges of my front panel with Pumice Stone Distress Ink and added ink spots in that same ink color. The “I Adore You” sentiment, also in Versafine Smokey Grey completes my Pink & Grey card.

I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with this week for your Pink & Grey cards for the Cards in Envy Challenge!

I began by stamping “Messy Love” with versamark ink over some MyMinds Eye design paper then clear heat embossed the heart pattern over the design paper. Once heat set, I then took Distress Ink in Ground Espresso and went over the entire piece buffing with a baby wipe to remove any lingering ink over the clear embossing. There is a similar technique in the Artistic Effects CD using Distress Stains. I finished off with the “Forever and A Day” stamp set from last years release.

We all need some masculine love cards this time of year so try out this cool technique with some of your favorite Technique Junkie Love stamps.

For my card today I used the beautiful image called, “Magical Dancer Bust.” I colored her up with Copic Markers and framed her using My Minds Eye “Fancy That” collection. The background features a My Favorite Things stamp and a few embellishments from My Minds Eye. The gold in this paper doesn’t photograph well, but it’s really lovely in real life.

Today at A Day For Daisies the design team has chosen some of their favorite Vintage images from the ADFD Store. The “Anything But A Card” challenge is still going strong so be sure to stop by and enter your special project.

My card today uses Lady Hat Feathers, a vintage image featuring this lovely portrait. I colored the image with Copic Markers and used My Minds Eye “Fancy That” paper pack. To me, nothing says vintage more than some sewing and I love the effect used with my machine.

Like this:

Happy Saturday! Today’s new Sketch Saturday challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who is offering a very generous $25.00 gift certificate to their store for our random winner. You have until Friday, April 15th for a chance to win.

Here’s the sketch:

For my card I used the July 2015 Simon Says Stamp Kit, “Sailing.” It comes with a sweet little sailboat die that is still available. I used Simon Says Stamp “Surf Blue” that comes in the Hybrid Cubes for the waves and the “mini stars” which is perfect for a little accent. The sentiment is Simon’s “Best Hugs.”

Happy Weekend! It’s time for a new Send a Smile 4 Kids challenge celebrating Mom, or that special female in your life!!! You have until Friday, April 15th to enter.

I wanted to remind you that Send a Smile 4 Kids is growing by adding more hospitals and more volunteers to take your donated cards. We hope that after you enter the challenge you consider sending your cards to SAS4Kids for children in need. Check out how.

Now how about some inspiration? My first card uses Sami’s Stamp image called, “Floral Girl.” I used Inktense Pencils to color her up and then edged with Wilted Lilac Distress Ink. I then put through the We R Memory Keepers die and added pearl pen for additional texture. My sentiment die is WPlus9.

We hope you will come be and participate at the Special Female or Mom Challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids!

It’s Friday and time for a new challenge at A Day For Daisies! This week we are looking for “A Touch of Wood” on your project. The challenge will run through Thursday, February 25th at noon on the A Day For Daisies Blog!

For my card today I used the fabulous image called, “Stick Horse Yellow.” As the challenge was to add a touch of wood, I used “wood paper” to print my image on. You can dye cut and print on “wood paper” so I thought this would be perfect to make my rocking horse with.

I then took my Copic R46 marker and colored it in being very careful to stay away from the black line as the wood bleeds terribly. I also lined the image with a sharpie after I fussy cut it, which also bled a little, but I like the look a lot. I added a deeper shade of wood by distressing the bottom with gathered twigs Distress Ink.

My paper pad is My Minds Eye Lost & Found – Union Square collection and wood designer collection. The rectangle was cut out using Lawn Fawn Stitched rectangle die and the red borders are also wood paper colored with Copic R46. Last, the sentiment is from the Mini Tags collection by Papertrey Ink.

We’d love for you to visit our Facebook Community Page where you can post your creations in addition to adding them to the blog. I can’t wait to see your “wood” creations this week.

Hello friends! Happy Monday! It’s sure a busy day here at The Crafty Nurse’s Blog! I’m here with this weeks sketch challenge at From The Heart Stamps. These are great challenges because you can use just the sketch, or if you’d like, add the twist. The only requirement is that you use a From The Heart image. The rest is up to you. The twist for this challenge is to add hearts, hearts and more hearts!

For my card, I used both the sketch & the twist this week. I colored the Faithful Friends “Hope Floats” digital image with Copic Markers for my focal image. The paper is My Minds Eye “Vanity Fair” and I finished off with hero arts gems and a few die cut hearts.

Recent Posts

The Crafty Nurse

Hi! I'm Kathy, a Southern Californian native who has lived in the west coast, midwest, northeast and now the southeast. I'm a Registered Nurse who lives for the creation of Art. I am currently on the Design Teams of Cards in Envy, From The Heart Stamps, and Technique Junkies with previous design credits for A Blog Named Hero, A Day For Daisies, Creative Vision, From the Heart Stamps, Open-Minded Crafting, Repeat Impressions Stamps, Sketch Saturday, Send a Smile 4 Kids and Try Stampin' On Tuesday. I've also guest designed for Crafting By Design, Kenny K, The Alley Way, and Simon Says Stamp. I am married 25+ years to a wonderful man and have two very special grown sons, Dan and Matt.